Distributor seal



Dec. 25, 1962 F. A. BERCZYNSKI DISTRIBUTOR SEAL 2 Sheets-v-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1960 ym l Dec. 25, 1962 F. A. BERCZYNSKI 3,070,242

DISTRIBUTOR SEAL I Filed Nov. 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofiice 3,070,242 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 3,070,242 DISTRIBUTOR SEAL Frank A. Berczyuslri, 216 W. Rust Trail, Willow Springs, Ill. Filed Nov. 17, 196i), Ser. No. 79,046 7 Claims. C1. 214-36) The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaining a seal about the distributor hopper employed in the top of a blast furna:e or the like.

In a blast furnace the charging of the furnace is ac complished through a hopper located in the top of the furnace. Normally there is a pressure differential be; tween the interior and the exterior of the furnace. As a result the materials with which the furnace is to be charged are introduced through one or more air locks formed by enclosures, the top and bottom of which are opened and closed by doors. In the industry these doors are commonly termed bells.

The uppermost of these hoppers usually has an open top into which the charge is directly emptied. Thereafter, the door or bell at the bottom of the uppermost hopper is opened by the lowering of the bell so that the charge falls into the uppermost enclosure or look. After reclosing the bell, the bell at the bottom of the uppermost lock is lowered to allow the charge to further descznd towards the furnace. The number of locks employed is usually designated in terms of the number of bells, i.e. a two bell furnace or a three bell furnace. Just how many locks are employed is determined by the preferences of the user and is unimportant as far as the present invention is concerned.

The uppermost hopper into which the charge is initially placed normally is rotatably mounted and provided with a power means so that it can be rotated as desired. The purpose of this is to evenly d'stribute the charge about all sides of the uppermost hopper so that as the charge is delivered to the furnace as previously'described, all portions of the furnace will be charged to the same extent. Such a rotating hopper is commonly termed a distributor.

Since the distributor forms the top of the uppermost lock it is necessary that a fluid seal be used about the distributor so that it may be rotated. If it Were mounted for ro'a'icn without a seal being provided, the enclosure immediately below the distributor would be open to atmosphere about the sides of the distributor and would not serve as'a lotk. The usual practice has been to use packing rings or sealing rings about the periphery of the distributor so as to provide a fluid seal between the rotating distributor and the walls of the enclosure immediaely there below. For example, see Patent No. 1,891, 821.

Distributors of the type to which reference is made are quite large. For example, many of those presently in use are about 8 feet in diameter and these are not the largest by any means. Thus, a large packing ring is required to obtain a fluid tight seal about such a distributor. The very size creates problems in obtaining a satisfactory seal. As is the case with respect to all seals about rotating members, they are subject to wear and periodically must be replaced. This is aggravated in the case of equipment on blast furnaces by the fact that the air or gas will be laden with abrasive dust. The direction of the pressure differential in the lock of which the seal forms a part is such that this abrasive dust is carried into the seal by the fluid, air or gas, seeking to work its way up through the seal. The cost and difliculty of replacement of these large seals is a significant factor to a steel mill operator.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means for obtaining a fluid tight seal about the top lock and the distributor that empties into that lock. One of the principal features of my invention is that it may be readily installed on existing furnaces in place of the usual packing gland without extensive modification of the existing structure and with a relatively nominal cost or expense. It is not necessary to add a new hell operating mechanism since the device I have devised can be operated by the same mechanism presently used to operate the bell at the bottom of the distributor.

A further object and advantage of my invention is that a better seal is obtained at the top of the first lock than can be obtained by the present practices. There is no relative rotation between the bell at the bottom of the distributor and the distributor, when the distributor is intentionally rotated, which otherwise results in a wear of these parts and a necessary periodic replacement of the parts. The bell at the bottom of the distributor is permitted to rotate with the distributor. At the same time there is a fixed bell at the top'of the uppermost lock, into which the distributor empties, to provide a positive seal for this lock.

While two bells are employed between the distributor and the uppermost lock the seating of these bells is provided by the same operating mechanism conventionally employed. However, through the use of my invention no accurate or exacting positional adjustment of one hell with respect to the other is required in order to obtain the desired positive fluid seals. The apparatus is selfcompensating so that the two bells will each positively close even though an exact positioning thereof is not obtamed This is an important object and advantage of my invention.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional eevational view of an embodment of the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevational view of a second embodiment of the'invention.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a distribution hopper generally 11 which is mounted over the top of a blast furnace. Between hopper 11 and the furnace are one or more locks. A portion of the uppermost enclosure, generally 12, wh ch forms the uppermost lock is ilustrated. The ma: terial, e.g. ore, coke, etc., with which the furnace is to becharged is deposited in hopper 11 by a suitable means, not shown. Hopper 11 is rotated to evenly distribute the charge about all sides of the hopper. Subsequently, this material is lowered through the locks and deposited in the furnace.

An annular ring gear 13 is attached to hopper 11. Gear 13 has teeth 14 which mesh with the teeth on a spur gear 15. A power means generally 16 drives a shaft 17 on which spur gear 15 is mounted.

Gear 13 and hopper 11 are supported on a plurality of rollers 19. Rollers 19 are affixed to shafts 20 suitably ournaled in bearings 21. A Wear ring 22 is secured to the bottom of ring gear 13 and rides on rollers 19. Gear 13 has an upper annular face 23 which rides against a plurality of upper rollers 24. Rollers 24 are secured to shafts 25 journalled in bearings 26. Immediately above and below teeth 14 are cylindrical faces 27 and 28. A plurality of side thrust rollers are used to center gear 13 on rollers 19 and 24. Each thrust roller has a pair of rims 29 and 30 which bear against faces 27 and 28 respectively of gear 13. The intermediate portion 31 of each roller is shaped so as to clear the teeth 14. Each side thrust roller is secured to a shaft 33 journaled in bearings 34.

At the bottom of hopper 11 is a ring 36 which forms a seat 37. A bell 38 forms a closure for the bottom of the hopper and is of a truncated conical shape so as to contact all portions of the circular seat 37. Bell 38 rests on bosses 39 of outer sleeve 40. A wear plate 41 fits about the upper half of bell 38 and a plurality of Wear rings 42 surround sleeve 40. A bearing 43 is secured to the bottom end of bosses 39 by means of bolts 44 The upper end of outer sleeve 40 forms a flange 47. Flange 47 rests on the top of a thrust bearing 48. Bearing 48 in turn is supported on an annular support member 49. This mounting permits the outer sleeve 40 to be carried on support member 49 while at the same time permits the sleeve and bell 38 to rotate with respect to the support member. A plurality of support rods 50 are attached to member 49 and lead to the overhead mechanism (not shown) for raising and lowering the bells. An arm 51 pivotally secured to support member 49 by a pin 52 acts to prevent rotation of the support member. Arm 51 rests in a two sided slot 53 in a portion 54 of the frame of the structure so that at all vertical positions of support member 49 the arm 51 will prevent it from rotating.

A cup 57 is secured to support member 49 by bolts 58. Qup 57 extends about the top of flange 47 and forms a platform on which a compression spring 59 is supported. The upper end of spring 59 bears against a flange 60- of an inner sleeve 61.

A sealing bell 63 is mounted between an upper annular boss 64 and lower bosses 65 on sleeve 61. A bearing 66 is secured to lower bosses 65 by means of bolts 67. Bearing 66 guides inner sleeve 61 on a rod 68. An upper bearing 69 having a plurality of seals 70 is bolted to flange 60 by bolt 71. Bearing 69 likewise serves as a guide about rod 68 for inner sleeve 61. It

might be mentioned that the lower end of rod 68 is connected to the bell, not shown, .at the bottom of enclosure 12 and operating means, not shown, for that bell is connected to the upper end of rod 68.

An annular sealing member 73 defines a truncated conical seat for bell 63. Sealing member 73 is secured to the bottom of ring 75 which defines the upper end of enclosure 12. When bell 63 is seated against member 73 as illustrated in FIGUIE 1, a fluid tight seal is maintained about the top of enclosure 12. The bell, not shown, which is attached to rod 68 forms a similar sea] at the bottom of enclosure 12 so that enclosure 12 will function as a lock.

The charge for the furnace is deposited into hopper 11 which functions as a distributor. Power means 16 is energized to rotate hopper 11 and evenly distribute the charge about all sides of the hopper. As hopper 11 rotates, bell 38 is free to rotate with it since bell 38 is supported on the bearing 48 by means of outer sleeve 40. However, sealing bell 63 does not rotate but remains in a single sealing position against seat 74 so that the lock defined by enclosure 12 (or at least the upper end of that lock) remains fluid tight.

When the charge in hopper 11 is to be deposited in the enclosure 12, rods 59 are lowered. As rods 50 commence their downward movement, bell 38 immediately moves away from seat 37 and compression spring 59 is allowed to expand. As soon as compression spring 59 reaches the limit of its expansion, which will of course be governed by the loading thereon, sealing bell 63 also commences moving away from its seat 74. With both bells 38 and 63 moved away from their seats, the charge in hopper 11 is free to fall into enclosure 12. After all of the charge has been transferred to enclosure 12, rods 50 are moved upwardly. Initially, sealing bell 63 will contact seat 74, thereafter continued upward movement of rods 50 results in compression of spring 59 until bell 38 reaches seat 37. At this point, the upward movement of rods 50 is stopped. Of course, as is the usual practice, the rod 68 will be lowered subsequently to open the bell at the bottom of enclosure 12 to allow the charge to proceed toward the interior of the furnace.

Normally, the bells 38 and 63 and the sleeves 40 and 61 as well as some of the other parts, e.g. wear plate 41 will be made in two parts to facilitate their assembly into the finished structure. When so constructed the parts will be provided with suitable fasteners, e.g. bolts so that they may be secured together. Since this is a standard practice in the industry, it has not been illustrated or described in detail.

FIGURE 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the hopper or distributor 11 and the enclosure 12 is identical with the structure described in connection with FIGURE 1. The lifting rods 50 and the support member 49 to which they are connected are the same. Arm 51 is used to prevent rotation of support member 49 as it was in FIGURE 1. Lifting rod 68 for the bottom hell, not shown, of enclosure 12 is employed as in FIGURE 1.

Surrounding rod 68 is a sleeve having a flange 81 on the top thereof. Bolts 82 attach flange 81 and top bearing 83 to support member 49. Bearing 83 has a plurality of .seals 84.

A sealing bell 86 is mounted on sleeve 80 between the upper annular boss 87 and lower bosses 88. Bolts 89 attach bottom bearing 90 to bosses 88. Sealing bell 86 has a truncated conical vface 91 which contacts seat 74 of sealing member 73 toform a fluid tight seal at the top of enclosure 12.

Distributor bell 93 is of generally truncated conical configuration and fits against seat 37 of sealing ring 36 to close the bottom of distributor 11. The upper portion 94 of hell 93 is of generally cylindrical configuration and has an inner lip 95 which rests on a bearing 96. In turn, bearing96 rides on a flange 97 of a traveler 98. Traveler 98, as well as the portion of the exterior of sleeve 80 about which the traveler fits, are splined as seen at 99. The splines permit traveler 98 to move vertically with respect to sleeve 80 while at the same time preventing any rotation of the traveler about the sleeve. A spring 100 is .in compression between flange 97 of traveler 98 and a flange 101 on sleeve 80.

Encircling the upper part of hell 93 is a wear plate 104, the upper end 105 of which is annular in shape. An umbrella generally 106 has an inner cylindrical wall 107 and an outer cylindrical wall 108 which defines a generally annular recess 109 therebetween. Inner wall 107 rests against a flange 110 on sleeve 80. It will be apparent that the upper portion 105 of wear plate 104 is free to move vertically within recess 109. At the same time, the umbrella 106 prevents the charge that is put into hopper 11 from falling between the wear plate 104 and the sleeve 80. .A plurality of wear rings 42 are used about sleeve 80 above umbrella 106.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 2, the charge is deposited in hopper 11 when the bells are in the position illustrated in that figure. The bells of course are held in this position by suitable apparatus connected to the upper ends of rods 50. As hopper 11 is rotated by power means 16 to distribute the charge in the hopper, bell 93 is free to rotate about sleeve 80 because of its being supported on bearing 96. However, bell 86, sleeve 80 and support member 49 all will be restrained against rotation by arm 51. When the charge is to be deposited in enclosure 12, rods 50 are lowered. Since bell 86 is directly attached to rods 50 through sleeve 80 and support member 49 the initial downward movement will open bell 86 with compression spring 100 expanding at the same time. As soon as the compression of spring 100 has been relieved sufliciently, bell 93 also will commence to open allowing the charge to descend from hopper 11 into enclosure 12. Thereafter, rods 50 are raised to close the bells. Initially, bell 93 will seat against ring 36. Further upward movement of rods 50 will result in a compression of spring 100 until bell 86 seats against sealing member 73. At this time, the upward movement of rods 50 is stopped. Bell 86 now provides a fluid tight seal about the top of enclosure 12 while bell 93 closes the bottom of hopper 11.

The foregoing description of specific embodiments is for the purpose of complying with 35 USC 112 and should not be construed as imposing unnecessary limitations on the appended claims inasmuch as modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the resilient means described in the two embodiments comprise a single compression spring, i.e. 59 and 100. In some embodiments, the use of a single spring might be replaced by a cluster of springs positioned at spaced points about the lifting sleeves.

I claim:

1. In a blast furnace, the improvement comprising: a frame; a distribution hopper rotatably mounted on said frame and having an open bottom; a first bell positioned to cover the open bottom of said hopper; a sleeve attached to said bell and extending upwardly through said hopper, said sleeve having a collar rigidly attached to the upper portion thereof; a fixed sealing member mounted on said frame and circumferentially extending about the lower part of said hopper; a sealing bell positioned below said first bell and adapted to contact said sealing member to form a fluid tight seal therebetween; a rod attached to said sealing bell and extending upwardly through said sleeve; lifting means connected to the collar of said sleeve and adapted to raise and lower said bells with respect to said hopper and sealing member, and a compression spring member interposed between the sleeve and the rod to thereby define an adjustable assembly whereby the rod and bell associated therewith may move vertically with respect to the driven sleeve and bell assembly to permit seating of both bells with a single lifting means.

2. In a blast furnace, the improvement comprising: a frame; a distribution hopper rotatably mounted on said frame and having a bottom opening; power means operatively connected to said hopper to rotate said hopper; a first bell positioned to cover the open bottom of said hopper; a sleeve attached to said bell and extending upwardly through said hopper, said sleeve having a flange secured thereto at a point above the top of said hopper; lifting means including a support surrounding said sleeve below said flange; a bearing between said support and said flange whereby said sleeve is rotatably supported on said lifting means; an enclosure mounted on said frame and extending below said hopper, said enclosure including a sealing member having a circular opening below said bottom opening; a sealing bell positioned below said first bell and extending within said enclosure through said top opening; a rod attached to said sealing bell and extending upwardly through said sleeve; a flange secured to said rod and positioned above said support; and compression spring means between said flange and said support, said spring means being of a length such that when said support is in the lowered position said first bell is a greater distance from the bottom of said hopper than is the distance between the sealing bell and the sealing member; whereby as said lifting means is raised said sealing bell will first seat against said sealing member and thereafter said spring means will compress and said first bell will seat against said hopper, and said first bell will be free to rotate as said hopper is rotated.

3. In a blast furnace having a rotating distribution hopper with an open bottom extending within the top of an enclosure adjacent the top of the furnace, the improvement comprising: a first bell positioned to cover the open bottom of said hopper; a sealing member for said enclosure having an opening below said open bottom; a sealing bell positioned below said first bell and adapted to contact said sealing member about the opening therein to form a fluid tight seal between the sealing bell and member; a sleeve extending through said hopper and said first bell and affixed to said sealing bell, said sleeve being movable vertically with respect to the first bell; support means for said first bell; a compression spring between 6 said support means and said sleeve resiliently urging said bells apart; and lifting rods attached to said sleeve:

4. In a blast furnace having a rotating distribution hopper for receiving and holding materials to be charged to the furnace, said hopper having an open bottom extending within the top of an enclosure adjacent the top of the furnace, the improvement comprising: a first bell adapted to close the open bottom of said distributor hopper and adapted in one position to define a materials seal therewith and in a second position to define an annular materials passing channel; a sealing member for said enclosure having an opening below said open bottom; a sealing bell positioned below said first bell and adapted to contact said sealing member about the opening therein to define a fluid tight seal between the sealing bell and member; operating means for said bells extending up wardly through said hopper, said operating means including a first and second shaft, the first shaft of said operating means being attached to the first bell, the sec ond shaft of said operating means being attached to said sealing bell; and a compression spring interposed between said first and second shafts, whereby as said operating means is raised one bell will seat and said spring will permit continued upward movement of the means until the other bell seats.

5. In a blast furnace having a rotating distribution hopper for receiving and holding materials to be charged to the furnace, said hopper having an open bottom ex tending within the top of an enclosure adjacent the top of the furnace, the improvement comprising: a first bell adapted to close the open bottom of said hopper and adapted in one position to define a materials seal therewith and in a second position to define an annular materials passing channel between said bell and said hopper; a sealing member for said enclosure having an opening below said open bottom; a sealing bell positioned below said first bell and adapted in one position to contact the sealing face of said sealing member to define a fluid tight seal therebetween and in a second position to define an annular materials passing channel; and vertically movable operating means for said first and sealing bells extending upwardly through said hopper, said means including a first and second shaft, said shafts being disposed in telescoped relation to each other, the first shaft being joined at one end to the first bell and at the other end to a suitable lift mechanism, said lift mechanism being restrained against rotation, the interconnection between said first shaft and said lift mechanism being such that relative axial motion is restrained while relative angular motion may occur therebetween, said second shaft being attached at the bottom thereof to said sealing bell, and a spring member interconnecting the upper portions of said first and second shafts the second shaft thereby being relatively vertically movable with respect to the lift mechanism, the arrangement of said first and second bells being such that said second bell is the first to close on raising the lifting mechanism.

6. In a blast furnace having a rotating distribution hopper with an open bottom extending within the top of an enclosure adjacent the top of the furnace, the improvement comprising: a first bell positioned to cover the open bottom of said hopper; a support device having a shaft portion and a collar portion rotatably interconnected, the shaft portion being attached to said bell, said device extending upwardly through said hopper and movable with respect to the hopper to seat and unseat said first bell against said hopper; means connected to the collar portion of said device to restrain said collar portion against rotation; a fixed sealing member attached to said enclosure and surrounding said distributor hopper, said sealing member forming a fluid tight top for said enclosure except for a central opening within the sealing member; a sealing bell positioned below said first bell and adapted to engage the sealing face of said sealing member about said opening to define a fluid tight seal therebetween; a vertically extending shaft disposed in telescoped relation to the shaft connected to said first bell, said vertically extending shaft being connected at the bottom thereof to the sealing bell; and resilient means interconnecting the upper terminal of the shaft for said sealing bell and said collar portion of said support device, the vertical distance between the sealing bell and the sealingirnernb'er, when said device is lowered, being less than the vertical distance between the first bell and the bottom of the hopper; whereby as said device is moved upwardly from the lowered position the contact of the sealing hell with said member will not prevent further upward movement of the device to thereafter seat the first bell against the hopper.

7. In a blast furnace having a rotating distributor hopper for receiving and holding materials to be charged to the furnace, said hopper having an open bottom extending within the top of an enclosure adjacent the top of the furnace, the improvement comprising: a first bell adapted to cover the open bottom of said distributor hopper and adapted in one position to define a materials seal therewith, said first bell in a second position defining an annular materials passing channel between the bell and the bottom of the hopper; a sealing member for said enclosure having an opening below said open bottom; a second bell positioned below said first bell and adapted in one position to contact the sealing face of said sealing member to define a fluid tight seal thereabout and in a channel, said second position of the first and second bells, respectively, being defined in unison so that the materials deposited within the distributor hopper may pass from the distributor hopper into the enclosure; operating means for said first and second bells extending upwardly through said hopper, said operating means including a first and second shaft, said shafts being disposed in telescoped relation to each other, the innermost shaft defining the shaft portion of the operating member for the second bell; and resilient means operative in combination with said operating means and interposed between the first and second shaft members, said resilient means including a first collar attached to the first shaft, said first collar defining a rotatable interconnection between said first shaft and the non-rotatable operating means, a second collar affixed to the upper extremity of the second shaft and a spring interposed between said first and second collars, said spring adapted to resiliently urge said second bell into sealing relation with said sealing member, said spring further defining a resiliently adjustable interconnection between said first and second bells to permit closing of the second bell upon operation of the first shaft.

Dienst Mar. 9, 1937 Johansson Dec. 20, 1960 

